Trump makes rare admission of mistake: Footage was not from Iran

DES MOINES, Iowa — Donald Trump has made a rare admission he was wrong – in claiming he saw a video of a U.S. cash payment going to Iran.

On the campaign trail this week, the Republican nominee has been dramatically describing a video that he says shows the U.S. paying off Iran as part of a deal to release U.S. sailors from Iranian custody. But there’s no evidence such a tape exists.

And on early Friday, Trump appeared to finally acknowledge his mistake, tweeting that “The plane I saw on television was the hostage plane in Geneva, Switzerland, not the plane carrying $400 million in cash going to Iran!”

The U.S. indeed paid that money to Tehran in January, in a publicly announced settlement of a decades-old international arbitration case dating back to when Iranians paid Washington for military equipment they never received. The U.S. government denies the payment was ransom for the release of Americans, which may or may not be true.

The admission marked a stark and unusual reversal for Trump, who rarely admits to error. But it may end the brewing controversy around his false claim – one that recalls his unsupported contention early in the campaign that he saw video of Muslims in New Jersey celebrating the 9/11 attacks – instead of prolonging a potentially negative news story for the candidate.

To the frustration of Trump’s aides and fellow Republicans, the celebrity businessman has all too often proven unable to let go of a bad story, often instead fueling it – like he did this past week when he escalated a flap with the parents of a slain U.S. soldier who was Muslim – at the expense of the campaign’s message.

Trump first discussed the video on Wednesday.

“I’ll never forget the scene this morning. And remember this: Iran – I don’t think you’ve heard this anywhere but here – Iran provided all of that footage, the tape of taking that money off that airplane,” Trump told supporters at a rally in Daytona Beach, Florida.

“Now, here’s the amazing thing: Over there, where that plane landed, top secret. They don’t have a lot of paparazzi. You know, the paparazzi doesn’t do so well over there, right? And they have a perfect tape. Done by obviously a government camera. And the tape is of the people taking the money off the plane, right? That means that, in order to embarrass us further, Iran sent us the tapes, right? It’s a military tape. It’s a tape that was a perfect angle, nice and steady, nobody getting nervous because they’re gonna be shot because they’re shooting a picture of money pouring off a plane.”

He added, “And Iran released that tape, which is of quality like these guys have. Iran released that tape so that we will be embarrassed.”

But several senior U.S. officials involved in the Iran negotiations have told The Associated Press they weren’t aware of any such footage. Instead, the campaign said in an email late Wednesday that Trump was simply referring to footage “shown on all major broadcasts this morning.”

A Trump spokeswoman told the Washington Post, the video Trump saw was grainy nighttime footage of people getting off a small plane, holding bags. “Geneva, January 17,” the footage is clearly labeled. Trump apparently assumed that this footage depicted the cash transfer – and concocted the story on his own about how the footage was acquired and the motivations for its release.

Perhaps even more unbelievably, Trump then repeated his original claim Thursday hours later at a rally in Portland, Maine – even after his campaign said that Trump had been mistaken.

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Nina Sage

So, The story is Trump, not the money p[aid for hostages. Anything to make the guy look bad.

hpmcg

No one but the candidate made up the story about the video. Not only did he refer to it as a footnote of sorts, he supplied a narrative. Such behavior is a facet of those suffering Narcissistic Personality Disorder. If part of a story seems good they can’t call it quits. Rather than that, they’ll elaborate it with whatever seems to make it even better. In this case it appears he was referring to a video he saw of something else another time. We can expect more of the same.

Jim_Parker

Hmmm – that sounds Like Hillary’s made up story about landing under sniper fire……

Patrick A. Turlo

The money is old news. The lack of a video is about Trump and should be. How does one view a ‘top secret’ video and not know what one is viewing?

Jim_Parker

The same question can be asked about Hillary, “How does one view a ‘top secret’ message and not know what one is viewing?”

wollydevil

He is making him self look bad he needs no help . His does not listen to his handlers they have given up on him

duxndrakes

Is this a story? Laughable.

Patrick A. Turlo

Of course it is. Trump won’t back down, apologize or admit error due to his narcissistic personality disorder. When he does admit (sort of) an error, it’s news. The disorder fits Trump and LePage.

From the Mayo Clinic webpage: “Personality disorders are conditions in which people have traits that cause them to feel and behave in socially distressing ways, limiting their ability to function in relationships and other areas of their life, such as work or school.”

“If you have narcissistic personality disorder, you may come across as conceited, boastful or pretentious. You often monopolize conversations. You may belittle or look down on people you perceive as inferior. You may feel a sense of entitlement — and when you don’t receive special treatment, you may become impatient or angry. You may insist on having ‘the best’ of everything — for instance, the best car, athletic club or medical care.”

“At the same time, you have trouble handling anything that may be perceived as criticism. You may have secret feelings of insecurity, shame, vulnerability and humiliation. To feel better, you may react with rage or contempt and try to belittle the other person to make yourself appear superior.”

eleanorgay

Where are the tax returns????? That would be a laugh.

Buckleyfan

The headline is the story as far as the media wing of the DNC is concerned…Trump makes “rare admission”…the media in this country is so corrupt.

Patrick A. Turlo

Trump has a personality disorder. Admission of an ‘error’ is not the norm for those with the disorder. At first Trump said he saw a ‘top secret’ video. Then it turns out it was news footage. Then it turns out it was a totally different subject. If Trump can get this confused and be so totally clueless, then he is beyond unfit to be President. He is dangerous.

GInny

totally agreed, corrupt and tells the people what they want to tell them regardless of the truths, facts or lie, as well as the ‘scare tactics’ the liberal media use to influence people into ‘their’ way of thinking simply from ‘unfounded and unwarranted fear”…liberal media is a joke but then again so are all these people supporting Hillary just…. Because!!!

eleanorgay

So, Trump really did see a pay-off for exchanging prisoners? Proof please.

wollydevil

Trump is doing every thing he can to keep his name on tv and in the papers . the more outrageous he is the better people like him what he has left.

eleanorgay

Much the cheapest way to get publicity.

wollydevil

Trump makes recurring campaign donations great again (by not letting you cancel them)

StillRelaxin

Look Paulie, even your rich big brother with a huuuge brain and huuuge hands can do it. Why can’t you?

wollydevil

Trump is the say way

wollydevil

Trump makes recurring campaign donations great again (by not letting you cancel them)